Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-03-25
A SACRIFICE.

M~&f tN ~ NNibAiik o''S6 w
aaked pines. Now and again a fierce
gust whirled up a drift, and dashed it, in
scattered flakes. against the unshuttered
pane. Clouds, like birds Of evil omen,
were scudding across the winter sky.
Against the base of the mountain the
lights Of the little valley town fiickered
ihtfully, intensifying the darkness Of the
intermediate mountain trail.
She was a glorious creature physically;
wild and untamed as the Sierra wastes
fhat surrounded her. Darcy Breene's
haue eyes caught q warm CLEAN as they
dwelt on her, porting over book and slate
N the light Of a pine fire. Red Ranch
Bob. glowering from the opposite
corner, noted the glance, and clinched
hs teeth over a cure that was only half
sti1ed. Darcy's eyes grew ~perceptibly
warmer as the murmer reached him. II
vas in the nature Of the young fellow 70
crow defiant under fire.
Sal closed her book with a sigh and
sose slowly, her splendid figure, in its
plain, dark habit, outlined clearly against
the background Of ruddy flame.
.'I'm thinkin' ez how yen need suthin
hot agin We git down yonder," she said
10 Darcy, and took down a brown bottle
from the hanging cupboard, loosening
The cork as she handed it to him.
He accepted the bottle from her hand,
miling into her glowing face as their
fingers met, and replaced il upon the
shelf from which she had taken it.
None tonight, thank you he said,
meaningly. my heart is too warm as
It Is. Perhaps you know what hand has
already kindled the fame"
The next moment he had hidden her
good night, and was struggling bravely
Through the drifts without.
For some minutes after the door had
closed upon him there was silence in the
little cabin, broken only by the heavy
breathing Of old Tom Enderly, enjoying
his nightly drunken sleep in the adjoin-
ing room. Sal, standing dreamily with
folded hands, and happy eyes fixed some
what wistfully on the flames. sighed as
rough clasp upon her arm recalled her
from her ~reverie. she shuddered invol-
unfairly as she turred to confront Bills
utrfllANA NuilN ~ IN outh "
trast TO that delicate face, pale and quiet,
chat had lust turned from her to the
stormy night without.
Il want ter kuow." said Bill. huskily
81 want ter know jest how long this
yer's a-goin' ter last?'
The girl shrugged her shoulders with
feigned indifference.
This yer blizzard? Can't say, I'm
sure. P'r'aps ye might tell better-on
III road hum"
Red Ranch Bills great fist came down
like a hammer on the little table.
.'Dern ye an yer Sass! T1l-In kill
yer'
She looked up at him u~nfinchingly.
with scornful, fearless eyes. His face
softened suddenly.
.'Sal, Sal" he cried pleadingly, don't
rile me, don't We be hard on NEEDN'T
ye. Quit this yer thing now, whar it be.
kum ter tn ranch, ter tn ranch ez hez
BEN waitin' fur ye sense tn night when
re gev me tn word ez I'D lived fur, fur
three long year! Me nor tn ranch don't
AZ no %larnin', Sal. We only wants
yersel!"
The girl shrank from his touch, brac-
ing herself against the chimney side.
There was a conflict coming, and she was
not sure Just how fierce a one it might
be. The fire on the hearth was paling.
The glow on her face paled with it, and
died out.
Bill" she said, I'm sorry ez how We
wants me; I'm sorry fur tibet thar word
a We counts I gev We, fur ! can't hold ter
Il, l can't. I'm a-goin' ter ak We ter let
me go-ye' don't want a gal ter tn
ranch ez 'ud hate il more n more ev'ry
day an night. Don't hold me ter il,
Bill. fur / can't marry ye-I can't!'
Tears were in her voice. tears were
very near her eyes, but the unwonted
softness of her face wa not of long dura-
ton, for the mans arms were round her,
crushing her in their grasp; his fierce
eyes burning her face.
IL az We one question" he painted.
s.Be ye tn gal ez I've loved an wanteI
til gal ez is fit ter be an honest mans
wife-or he ye Darcy Breene's leavin's-
III woman ez the schoolmaster hez
wrunged?"
He read her answer in her steadfast,
sustained eyes.
80 much tn wursen fur him. y he
muttered. LEI he'd owed We aught,
I'D hev let him live to pay it. Now
And before the girl realized that she
was free he had flung her from him and
was plunging madly down the trail.
Oh. -. q. .LA Ia4r xnr,n1p.x har
hands and sobbing despairingly, as she
vainly called him hack.
.'Bll. Bill. KUN back. I WIZ only
s-foolin' Of ye! Ill marry We, Bill-ln
marry YET
The wild words echoed along the
mountain. and ~shuddered back 10 her,
horne on the answering wind. For an
instant she yielded to her despair, totter-
ing weakly against the open door. The
chill SHOWS dashed in her face; an icicle.
snapped from the rafters by the wind,
fell upon her cheek, piercing sharply into
the soft flesh. The pain revived her.
Quich as thought, she ran to the hearth,
falling upon her knees as she threw aside
the rude bearskin rug, and groped along
until her hands Jared a loosened stone.
To lift this. seize the old fashioned purse
that lay beneath and hide it in her bosom
was the work Of a moment. Then she
caught up a shawl. wrapping 1t tightly
about her head and shoulders and dashed
boldly into the bitter storm. Not down
the trail. She knew q shorter way than
thstl Five rods ahead Of the cabin be
gan q sharp, natural descent, perilous in
simmer sunshine, surely fatal now, in
he snow and darkness; q descent that
elf by cliff shelved down 10 the highway